ExoTerra raises $8 million to boost propulsion system production
Original Publication Date: 2024-06-20 10:00
Colorado-based ExoTerra Resources raised $8 million to expand production. Lago Innovation Fund, part of Lago Asset Management, supplied the funding. ExoTerra recently opened a 3,500-square-meter facility near its Littleton, Colorado, headquarters.
Starliner ISS stay extended to complete thruster and helium leak testing
Original Publication Date: 2024-06-18 22:42
NASA and Boeing extend stay of CST-100 Starliner at the International Space Station. Engineers wrap up analysis of thruster problems and helium leaks on the crewed spacecraft. Starliner is now scheduled to undock from the station at 10:10 p.m. Eastern June 25.
CesiumAstro banks another $65 million
Original Publication Date: 2024-06-18 22:05
CesiumAstro, a startup specializing in phased array communications payloads, raised $65 million. CesiumAstro plans to expand its staff to bolster research and development and manufacturing. Since its founding in 2017, CesiumAstro has raised $156 million in equity.
Exolaunch integrates 42 satellites for SpaceX’s Transporter-11 rideshare mission – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-06-20 00:00
Exolaunch has successfully integrated the firm’s customer satellites for the upcoming Transporter-11 Rideshare mission with SpaceX. The mission is expected to be Exolaunch’s largest mission of 2024 thus far, servicing 42 smallsats for 23 global customers. Exolaunch has successfully deployed satellites on all ten previous Transporter rideshare missions, including the most recent Transporter-10 launch in March 2024.
SpaceX scrubs Junteenth launch of SES ASTRA 1P again – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-06-19 00:00
SpaceX is now targeting Thursday, June 20 for a Falcon 9 launch of the SES ASTRA 1P mission. The two-hour and 49-minute launch window opens at 5:35 p.m. ET. A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about 15 minutes prior to liftoff. This is the ninth flight of the first stage booster supporting this mission.
Lockheed Martin to develop next generation weather satellite constellation – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-06-19 00:00
Lockheed Martin has been selected by NASA to develop and build the nation’s next generation weather satellite constellation, Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) The baseline contract is for three spacecraft with options for four additional spacecraft. The total estimated value of the contract including options is $2.27 billion.
Astrolight sets the stage for next generation secure space-to-Earth data transmission – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-06-20 00:00
Astrolight has completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the company’s ATLAS-1 Space-to-Earth laser communication on-orbit demonstration mission. The European Commission (EC) has selected the Astrolight experiment in the frame of the IOD-IOV Call for Expression of Interest.
Astronics receives million$$$ contract for U.S. Army Radio Test Set TS-4549/T – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-06-20 00:00
Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO) has been awarded the production contract for the U.S. Army Radio Test Set TS-4549/T. The firm-fixed price, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract has a total value of up to $215 million.
Unannounced launch from Vandenberg of U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin flight test of future intercontinental ballistic missile reentry vehicle – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-06-19 00:00
The U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin conducted a planned flight test of the unarmed, developmental Mk21A reentry vehicle. The Mk21A program is in early development overseen by the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center. After attaining full operational capability, the Mk21A RV will be integrated on the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile weapon system.
Spirent successfully implements PULSAR™ signals into their product line – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2024-06-19 00:00
Spirent Communications plc (LSE:SPT) has successfully implemented Xona Space Systems’ PULSAR™ production signals. Xona is developing PULSAR, a high-performance positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) service built on a backbone of LEO small satellites. Spirent is now accepting orders for SimXona with production signals capability.
The Next Full Moon is the Strawberry Moon
Full Moon near summer solstice will be low in the sky. When the full Moon is low it shines through more atmosphere, making it more likely to have a reddish color. For the Washington, DC area, the full Moon on the night from the evening of June 21 to the morning of June 22 will have the lowest full Moon of the year.
Artemis, Architecture, and Lunar Science: SMD and ESDMD Associate Administrators visits Tokyo
The U.S. And Japan were proud to make a historic announcement for cooperation on the Moon. Japan will design, develop, and operate a pressurized rover for crewed and uncrewed exploration on the Moon. The enclosed and pressurized rover will be able to accommodate two astronauts on the lunar surface for 30 days.
Sols 4216-4218: Another ‘Mammoth’ Plan!
At the start of this week, we did a preload test on the target “Mammoth Lakes,” the rightmost bright ellipse (DRT ellipse, so less dusty) on the workspace image above. The preload test shows the stability of the rock, making sure it doesn’t move. Unfortunately, as Conor reported on Wednesday, the preload test didn’t give us the information that we wanted to go ahead with full drill.